Loughborough University – Spectrally Pure Topological Microcombs PhD (Ref: AQ/PH/2026-02)
Overview
UKRI/NPL-funded PhD studentship at Loughborough on spectrally pure topological microcombs for quantum timing, with two 6-month NPL placements. £25,555/yr tax-free stipend plus UK-rate tuition fees; international tuition (£29,500/yr) not covered. Deadline: 16 October 2026.
Eligibility
At least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in physics, engineering, applied mathematics, advanced mechanics, or a related STEM field intersecting with photonics. Applicants must meet Loughborough's minimum English language requirements.
Benefits
4-year UKRI/NPL studentship: tax-free stipend of £25,555/year (£21,805 UKRI + £3,750 industry top-up), UK-rate tuition fees, funding for conference travel, lab materials, and an industry placement. International tuition fees (£29,500 for 2026/27) are NOT covered by the studentship.
Available Fields
Required Documents
Standard Loughborough PhD application documents, quoting reference AQ/PH/2026-02.
Application Process
Apply online selecting Campus 'Loughborough', Programme 'Physics', quoting reference AQ/PH/2026-02. Start dates: Feb/Jul/Oct 2027. Enquiries: sci-pgr@lboro.ac.uk.
This PhD project at Loughborough University is part of a funded collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), developing extremely low-noise optical sources (microcombs) for precision timing applications, aligned with the UK Quantum Missions.
Opportunity
Spectrally Pure Topological Microcombs (Ref: AQ/PH/2026-02)
Supervisors
- Prof Alessia Pasquazi (A.Pasquazi@lboro.ac.uk) — primary supervisor
- Dr Antonio Cutrona — secondary supervisor
- Dr Jacob Tunesi (NPL) — external supervisor
University
Loughborough University — Department of Physics, Emergent Photonics Research Centre
Country
United Kingdom
Location
Loughborough, United Kingdom
Study Level
PhD, 4 years full-time (8 years part-time)
About the Project
Leveraging recent advances in topological states and nonlinear optics, the project develops ultrastable optical frequency combs in a compact, metrology-ready form — building practical microcombs for portable quantum timing devices. It is funded by the UKRI Industrial Doctoral Landscape Awards (IDLA) Partnership and links to the UK Hub for Quantum-Enabled Position, Navigation and Timing (QEPNT), an EPSRC Programme Grant on chip-scale atomic systems, and the STFC-NSERC UK-Canada MICROQ initiative. The student will complete two six-month placements at NPL and contribute to leading-author publications and international presentations.
Who Can Apply
At least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent). Applications welcome from exceptional students with STEM backgrounds (physics, engineering, applied mathematics, advanced mechanics) intersecting with photonics. Applicants must meet Loughborough’s minimum English language requirements.
Funding Notes
The UKRI/NPL studentship (4 years) provides a tax-free stipend of £25,555/year (£21,805 UKRI funding + £3,750 industry top-up) plus UK-rate tuition fees, plus funding for conference travel, lab materials and an industry placement. International tuition fees are NOT covered — the international fee for 2026/27 is £29,500 (subject to annual inflationary increases). Both UK and International students are eligible to apply, but international students must fund the fee gap themselves. No bench fees required.
How to Apply
Apply online, selecting Campus ‘Loughborough’ and Programme ‘Physics’, quoting reference AQ/PH/2026-02. Start dates: February 2027, July 2027, or October 2027. Enquiries: sci-pgr@lboro.ac.uk.
Application Deadline
16 October 2026.
Ready to Apply?
Review the details above, then use the links below to apply or visit the official page.
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